Jefferson blanks Bucs

October 7, 2012

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION - On senior day for the Jefferson Cougars, Catalino Leon led the way.

A goal and an assist for Leon in the second half against the Buckhannon-Upshur Bucs Saturday at Jefferson High School prepared the way for a 3-0 shutout.

"At the end of the season, we wanted to bring the ball up and score after tying so many games," Leon said. "We started out slow, but we heated up. We did everything better in the second half."

Article Photos

Journal photo by Spenser LeathermanJefferson’s Brett Stuart, right, dribbles during the Cougars’ game with Buckhannon-Upshur Saturday.

"This is a good win for us because this team is in our region," Cougars coach Matt Slacker said. "We were able to find the back of the net a few times and hold their key threats in check and not give up too many opportunities."

Brett Stuart broke the ice for Jefferson in the 15th minute.

Austin Ogden brought the ball up the left sideline before finding Stuart on a cross to center the ball up. Stuart then broke away, placing a shot between Bucs keeper Cam Blake's legs for the match's opening goal.

The breeze blew throughout the game, and the Bucs attempted to keep the ball down and control it.

"We wanted to spread out, keep the ball on the ground and attack," Buckhannon-Upshur coach Mike Donato said. "We did that and got chances and corners, but Jefferson adjusted and outplayed us the rest of the game."

Jefferson's adjustment came in the second half when it scored two more goals.

"We did a decent job marking (Leon), but we made miscues," Donato said. " We accounted for him well, but we made a mistake in the box on one and were out of position on the other."

In the 52nd minute, Leon crossed a ball in from the left side and found Jack Barrat, who placed a header into the corner of the net to give Jefferson a 2-0 lead.

Leon put in the finishing shot on an Austin Doughty cross to Dylan Donlon with 10:23 to play to cap off the scoring.

The Buckhannon-Upshur attack was stalled out by Matt Saghy, who finished the match with 10 saves and the back line of Jefferson.

"Our defense played well," Slacker said. "Whether it was Don Boucher, Sam Wight, Pelle Tracey or Hunter Koppenhaver rotating in, we couldn't have gotten the shutout without those guys on defense."